Kix Brooks shows acting chops in new movie, ‘Ambush at Dark Canyon’

Kix Brooks made a name for himself as half of award-winning country duo Brooks & Dunn. He added radio personality to his resume when he started hosting American Country Countdown several years ago, and now he’s included acting in his list of creative outlets.

Country artist Kix Brooks photographed at the Great Eastern Exposition in West Springfield, MA on September 27, 2013. Photo credit: Chris and Todd Owyoung

Brooks, who took acting classes in college, stars in the new western “Ambush at Dark Canyon.” The independent film also features fellow country singer Randy Houser and actor Ernie Hudson, who played Winston Zeddemore in "Ghostbusters."

“Ambush at Dark Canyon” is available at Wal Mart now and will be in other stores nationwide on Tuesday.

“He’s a good actor,” Hudson said of Brooks, who plays U.S. Marshall Duke Donovan in the film. “The first time we met, I fell in love with the guy. It was great working with him.”

In the film, Brooks’ character is put in jail after being accused of participating in a fatal bank robbery. When he finds out his beloved wife’s life is in danger, he escapes to rescue her and restore his name.

Brooks was offered the role after appearing in “Born Wild,” another film by “Ambush” producers William Shockley and Dustin Rikert.

When Rikert and Shockley insisted they wanted him, Brooks took the script and after reading it decided that the opportunity to anchor the film was too good to pass up.

“I turned the last page, I looked over at (wife) Barbara and I said, ‘If I don’t try to do this, I’ll regret this for the rest of my life.’”

Brooks said he ordered himself some practice guns online and would get up in the morning, put on his bath robe, get a cup of coffee and strap on his weapons.

“I started (pretend) shooting Barbara and the cat,” he said. “The cat really hates me. I really got into it.”

Shockley and Rikert, who eventually went into business with Brooks and his son Eric Brooks to form production company Team Two Entertainment, said they never doubted their decision for a minute.

“The really great thing about him and all the other actors in the movie is they aren’t afraid to let people beat them up,” said Shockley. “After the first day, we realized we really had something special on our hands. We went that extra mile for it.”